Moringa oleifera Lam.: A Phytochemical and Pharmacological Overview

Moringa oleifera Lam. is a fast-growing and drought-resistant tree of the Moringaceae family. The tree is known with some common names: miracle, ben oil, drumstick, horseradish or simply moringa. The plant grows in a variety of environments including harsh conditions. The plant has a high content of phytonutrients, being used as natural integrators to cure malnutrition. Phytochemical studies of plant organs showed the plant as a rich source of primary and secondary metabolites belonging to different classes of organic compounds. Pharmacological studies confirmed the use of the plant to cure several diseases and to possess nutraceutical properties. This review is aimed to contribute to the knowledge of M. oleifera by providing its plant description, phytochemistry and pharmacology.

Proteomic Analysis Reveals Growth Inhibition of Coriolus versicolor by Methanol Extracts of Cinnamomum camphora Xylem

The extracts of decay-resistant tree species are important research objects for the future development of wood preservatives. To understand the antifungal mechanisms of Coriolus versicolor inhibition with methanol extracts of C. camphora xylem, the protein profiles of C. versicolor were analyzed using 2-DE followed by MALDI-TOF/MS and bioinformatic analyses. The results showed that 41 protein spots were obviously changed among the 366-385 protein spots of C. versicolor treated with methanol extracts of C. camphora xylem. Twenty-one protein spots were upregulated, and 20 protein spots were downregulated. Cellular localization was performed to identify these differential proteins, and biological process and functional analysis found that 9 of these proteins were in the cytoplasm, 6 were intracellular, and 5 were in the mitochondrion. A total of 18.8% were mapped to small-molecule metabolic processes, 12.5% to cellular amino acid metabolic processes, and 10.9% to cellular nitrogen compound metabolic processes. Twenty-five percent of the differential proteins were associated with ion bonding, 15% with oxidoreductase activity, and 15% with ATPase activity and transmembrane transport activity. Downregulated expression of aspartate aminotransferase, ATP synthase alpha chain, DEAD/DEAH-box helicase, and phosphoglycerate kinase showed that the methanol extracts of C. camphora xylem disrupted functional aspects such as nitrogen and carbon metabolism, energy metabolism, hormone signal response, and glucose metabolism, eventually leading to C. versicolor inhibition.

RESPONSE OF SELECTED TREE SEEDLINGS TO ROOT-KNOT NEMATODE (Meloidogyne incognita)

Root-knot nematodes have been implicated in poor growth and death of trees in the nursery and newly established forest plantations. Cultivating resistant tree species is one of the viable methods in the management of nematode pests once they are identified. A pot experiment laid out in completely randomized design was conducted to screen fifteen selected tree seedlings for resistance to Meloidogyne incognita. Each tree seedling was replicated eight times and was grown on a steam-sterilized soil. The seedlings were inoculated each with 7,000 eggs of Meloidogyne incognita at four weeks after planting. Data were collected on plant height and stem girth at 12 weeks after inoculation. At termination, data were also collected on gall index (GI), final nematode population (Pf) and reproductive factor (RF). Data were analyzed using analysis of variance. Resistance or susceptibility status was assigned with Canto-Saenz host designation scheme. There was variability in the growth of the tree seedlings. Simphonia africana had the highest GI, Pf and RF of 3.3, 54,500 and 22.07, respectively and these values were significantly higher than values from other seedlings. Six tree seedlings; Simphonia africana, Theobroma cacao, Gmelina arborea, Piptadeniastrum africana, Chrysophyluum albidium and Parkia biglobosa were found to be susceptible to M. incognita, while six (Tetrapleura tetraptera, Anacardium occidentale, Annonas muricata, Dinium guinensis and Vitex doniana) were found to be resistant and three (Treculia africana, Mangifera indica and Dacryodes edulis) were tolerant. Resistant tree seedlings should be planted in M. incognita-infested plantation and susceptible species should be treated even in

Introduced tree and shrub species for sustainable landscape compositions in the urban conditions

Low temperature is оne оf the mоst significаnt limiting factоrs determining the distribution of tree species. Evaluation of the degree of freezing of tree and shrub species is of great importance for decorative gardening. Plants freeze a lot not only in harsh winters, but also during prolonged thaws with a subsequent drop in temperature, which negatively affects their ornamentation. In this regard, one of the main ways to preserve the ornamental and plant biodiversity of city parks in a temperate continental climate is to replenish existing plantings with frost-resistant tree species. It is the first study of the frost resistance of introduced trees and shrubs, which was made to isolate species adapted to the winter conditions of the temperate continental climate to form stable landscape compositions in urban parks. Based on the results of artificial freezing, species of woody plants with high frost resistance were selected: Betula kelleriana, Betula raddeana, Staphylea pinnata, Cotinus Coggygria and Pinus pallasiana. The above species of wood are recommended for sustainable landscape design in the city.